Newly Discovered Duck-Dinosaur Species: Tareta Tareta

Paleontologists have discovered a new genus and species of the small Lamboosaurin hadrosaur dinosaur from two fossilized jaws unearthed in Morocco.

Tareta Tareta thrived in what is now Morocco during the late Cretaceous period, approximately 66 million years ago.

“The Cretaceous era marked the later stages of the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea and featured elevated eustatic sea levels,” stated Bass University paleontologist Nicholas Longrich, along with colleagues from Spain, France, and Morocco.

“Consequently, the continents became fragmented, resulting in a series of isolated island continents, which led to the evolution of distinct dinosaur faunas in various regions of the world.”

“Asia and North America were primarily inhabited by Ornisicchians of Hadrosaurid and Serratopsia, while Tyrannosaurus theropods were the apex predators.”

“In the Southern Hemisphere, titanosaurs were the leading herbivores, and Abelisaurus theropods were the top theropods.”

“Although geographic isolation played a significant role in shaping biogeographic patterns, recent findings emphasize that dispersal was also crucial, especially towards the end of the Cretaceous.”

The two related jaws of Tareta Tareta were found in Maastrichtian phosphate deposits at the top of Morocco.

“The phosphates in the Ouradubdoon Basin, situated in central Morocco, are composed of a mix of phosphate sand, marshes, and limestone in a shallow marine setting where the North Atlantic Ocean extended inland to cover much of Morocco,” the paleontologist explained.

“These phosphates date back to the Maastrichtian era (approximately 720,000 – 66 million years ago).”

Lambeosaurin dinosaurs were numerous in Morocco, with at least three species coexisting. Image credit: Longrich et al., doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2025.05.006.

Tareta Tareta is classified under the Lambeosaurine tribe Arensaurini, marking the total count of Arenasaurulin species identified in Moroccan phosphates at three.

“This first hadrosaurus discovery from Maastrichtian phosphate in Morocco, Ajinavia Odysseus, despite being isolated by the ocean, indicates hadrosaurus dispersion across Africa during the late Cretaceous,” noted the researchers.

“The close relationship of Ajinavia within Arenysaurini, known solely from Armorica, suggests that this clade was dispersed from southern Europe.”

“Following that, the second Arenysaurin, Mincaria Bata, was reported from the same period.”

“The jaw and tooth structure of Mincaria Bata differs significantly from that of Ajinavia, indicating a distinct niche specialization.”

“A related upper jaw of a small duck-like dinosaur was recently identified alongside phosphates.”

“Interestingly, neither of these specimens can be connected to Ajinavia or Mincaria. Instead, they signify the third distinct genus and species.”

“The notable variation observed in the jaws and teeth of arenasaurins in Africa points towards adaptive radiation driven by dispersal. Lamboosaurins seem to have rapidly diversified to exploit a new niche after migrating from Europe to North Africa,” they concluded.

“This African radiation aligns with the decline of Lamboosaurins in North America, underscoring the highly localized nature of dinosaur evolution.”

The team’s paper has been published in the journal Gondwana’s Study.

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Nicholas R. Longrich et al. A new hadrosaurus from the late Maastrichtian phosphate in Morocco provides insights into radiation in African Lambeosaurin. Gondwana’s Study, published online on May 28, 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2025.05.006